More than 300 genealogy students and teachers from around the nation will convene at Samford University June 13-18 for the annual Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR).  The nationally-known institute, cosponsored by the Board for Certification of Genealogists in Washington, D.C., provides a week of intensive study led by prominent genealogy educators.

A record total of 286 students and 40 faculty members from 37 states and the District of Columbia will participate in the program, which dates from the 1960s.  Ten academically-oriented courses in tracing family lines are offered ranging from a beginner’s class to specialized topics.

Among the courses are Research in the South, Writing and Publishing for Genealogists, Virginia’s Land and Military Conflicts and Their Effect on Migration, Researching African-American Ancestors, U.S. Military Records and Scottish Genealogical Research.

Faculty members are widely published in the field of genealogy, and many hold leadership positions in national genealogy organizations.  Elizabeth Shown Mills, a past president of both the American Society of Genealogists and the Board for Certification of Genealogists and the author of 12 books in the field, has taught at the Samford institute since 1979.  Lloyd Bockstruck, supervisor of the genealogy section for the Dallas (Texas) Public Library and author of seven books on genealogy, has taught at the Samford program since 1974.

Della Darby, chair of cataloguing for Samford’s University Library, is director of the genealogy institute.